In the wild degus can at most reach the
age of four years. As a pet they become much older. They can
become five to eight years old. This difference certainly has
to do with the life circumstances, which are often much better
in captivity than in the wild. In captivity there is no danger
of enemies, there's often better food, and the chance of getting
diseases is much less. The age a degu can reach is pretty exceptional,
when compared to the ages of other rodents. Most rodents die
after about two years.